Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World

The tsunami of cheap credit that rolled across the planet between 2002 and 2008 was more than a simple financial phenomenon: it was temptation, offering entire societies the chance to reveal aspects of their characters they could not normally afford to indulge. The Greeks wanted to turn their country into a pinata stuffed with cash and allow as many citizens as possible to take a whack at it. The Germans wanted to be even more German; the Irish wanted to stop being Irish.

In addition to providing the details of the origin of the debt crisis in Greece, Ireland, and California, Lewis provides an interesting and colorful account. That's in comparison to most business writers, who aren't very good writers. Yes, sometimes Lewis is over the top, like in his theory that Germans are obsessed with anal scatology, but that adds to the material that would otherwise be a very dry read.

Putin's Kleptocracy: Who Owns Russia?

The raging question in the world today is who is the real Vladimir Putin and what are his intentions. Karen Dawisha’s brilliant Putin’s Kleptocracy provides an answer, describing how Putin got to power, the cabal he brought with him, the billions they have looted, and his plan to restore the Greater Russia.

Most Americans suspect that Putin is a thug. Troops with unmarked uniforms, face masks, and Russian accents, that populate break away Ukrainian territories are displayed on the nightly news. But like an iceberg, the majority of Putin's deviousness remains hidden from popular view, that was until this book. Whether Putin was an accidental prime ministerial candidate pushed forward by the oligarchs desperate to replace an ailing Yeltsin, or part of a deliberate plot by KGB and organized crime as advocated in this book, remains speculative. What is clear is that Putin, a man of mediocre abilities, reactionary tendencies, a crook, and probably a murderer, (can you say plutonium poisoning kiddies) now has a stranglehold on Russia. Now, the Russian mass media is merely a propaganda arm for Putin spinning the virile, shirtless myth, that some people are stupid enough to believe, and creating two star Audible reviews, to what is a well written book.

The Nazis Next Door: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler's Men

Until recently, historians believed America gave asylum only to key Nazi scientists after World War II, along with some less famous perpetrators who managed to sneak in and who eventually were exposed by Nazi hunters. But the truth is much worse, and has been covered up for decades: the CIA and FBI brought thousands of perpetrators to America as possible assets against their new Cold War enemies.

The seamy side of America's war on Communism, is that the CIA let thousands of Nazis settle peacefully in the U.S. Lichtblau provides ample evidence of this premise. He does so in an interesting, and sometime sarcastic manner, that the reality of this situation would engender.

His research indicates that the right wing Foster Dulles was the architect, of this policy. In addition to (overthrowing a few elected governments in Costa Rica and Iran,"info not included in this book") pardoning a few ex Nazis was on his to do list. After all, weren't the Communists our real enemy, and what's a few dead Jews, gypsies, and partisans between friends?? Yea, and I personally hate the airport named after him in D.C, and then there was the 'successful Bay of Pigs operation', (What, politicians with irrational fears making them do crazy things,- this could never happen, again ?) .but I won't let that get in the way of a good story. And this is an interesting and well authored book.

Jim Cramer's Get Rich Carefully

Tired of false promises about getting rich quickly, promises that lead to reckless decisions, the stepping stones to the poorhouse? How about trying something different? How about going for lasting wealth based on thirty-five years' worth of insights from Jim Cramer, a grizzled stock veteran and host of CNBC's Mad Money with Jim Cramer . . . How about getting rich carefully?

I take Cramer's advice with a grain of salt. The reason is, I'm a mutual fund guy, and I don't buy a lot of stocks. That said, I always pay attention to Cramer, because he's the smartest stock mkt. pundit out there, he doesn't follow the crowd, and he's not afraid to stick his neck out, by making recommendations that could easily come back to bite him in the ass, as some inevitably do.

The book analyzes some new trends that most people aren't aware of like stealth technology, which is how non tech companies use tech to revolutionize their companies. Examples are Amorall's use of clothing that wicks sweat, dries fast, and stays warm, Doninos Pizza's use of online ordering, etc He also discusses which companies should break up, and why. And the notable 20 best CEO's.

Cramer does a good job of reading his book, although he has an annoying habit sometimes of talking too loud, which probably helps hold interest on TV, but hey I've already purchased the book so I don't need someone shouting in my ear to hold my interest, like that right wing gadfly Rick Santelli.

Miles: The Autobiography

Universally acclaimed as a musical genius, Miles Davis was one of the most important and influential musicians in the world. Here, Miles speaks out about his extraordinary life. Miles: The Autobiography, like Miles himself, holds nothing back. For the first time Miles talks about his five-year silence. He speaks frankly and openly about his drug problem and how he overcame it. He condemns the racism he encountered in the music business and in American society generally. And he discusses the women in his life.

Miles wrote a brutally honest autobiography. You see the man's faults, as well as the tremendous drive that made him one of the most renowned Jazz greats of the 20th century. The book answers some of the questions that made Miles such an enigma, such as: why did he famously turn his back on audiences on stage? And why was he known for having a sometimes contentious personality?

Miles was very sensitive to patronizing, and racist comments by whites, partially because he came up at a time when blacks were excluded from some night clubs and hotels that he traveled to, and because he grew up in East St. Louis which had a terrible race riot in the early 20th Century, where many blacks were killed.

He tells of an incident where he was at the white house receiving an award when he took offense at a patronizing racial comment from one of the guests. "I bet your Mammy would be proud of you." After he told the lady off, the insulted woman asked, "what did you do to deserve this presidential award?" "I changed the music 6 or 7 times," Miles said. And he did, from his groundbreaking Sketches Of Spain in the fifties, which is unlike any other jazz album, to his rock fusion in the 70's, 80's and 90's.

Miles was accused by some of pandering to commercialism when he combined his jazz with rock. I saw Miles shortly before he died, when he did a free concert at Penn's Landing in Philly. I saw a little baby dancing, and the music was just that natural and spontaneous, which was what Miles said about it. He also said that the young people get addicted to the electronic sound, and then it becomes hard to listen to acoustic music. - and I find this true with my own listening. Miles just had that inherent knowledge about music - which made him the legend he was. He also sacrificed everything for his music.

If you're interested in jazz, or what it was like being a jazz celebrity in the 20th Century you'll like this book.

Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life

From Graham Nash - the legendary musician and founding member of the iconic bands Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Hollies - comes a candid and riveting autobiography that belongs on the reading list of every classic rock fan.

After listening to Keith Richard's and Clapton's bios in addition to Billy Crystal's, I liked Nash's the best. Nash was always the most articulate of Crosby Stills & Nash. Which is remarkable for a guy who never completed high school. He doesn't waste lot of time discussing his drug use like in Keith Richard's bio, nor does he spend a lot of time bragging about his children and worrying about his imminent demise like Billy Crystal. lnstead, Nash gives us the condensed version of what we came for, which is his rise to rock and roll stardom 1st through the Hollies and then with Crosby Stills & Nash. It's a remarkable story. How the Hollies 1st big U.S. hit Bustop was written by the 14 yr. old Graham Gouldman, and how Nash was blown away when the kid performed it for him. And the 1st time he sung together with Crosby and Stills at Joni Mitchell's house. He also brings us up to date with his current pursuits.

What made the audiobook for me was that it was read by Nash himself, a really nice personal touch.

Where Am I Eating?: An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy

America now imports twice as much food as it did a decade ago. What does this increased reliance on imported food mean for the people around the globe who produce our food? Kelsey Timmerman set out on a global quest to meet the farmers and fisherman who grow and catch our food, working alongside them: loading lobster boats in Nicaragua, splitting cocoa beans with a machete in Ivory Coast, and hauling tomatoes in Ohio. Where Am I Eating? tells fascinating stories of the farmers and fishermen around the world who produce the food we eat.

Coming on the heels of "Where am I wearing?" Kelsey Timmerman bestselling book about where our clothes come from, comes this new book, in which Timmerman visits the countries where coffee, cocoa, bananas, lobster, and apples juice, are sourced from. Kelsey Timmerman actually works along with the farm workers, harvesting bananas, and coffee, and goes to sea in a boat with lobster divers, in Nicaragua. So, he does painstaking research on the subject, visiting with countless people involved.

The book is more of an adventure tale, than a dry study. The downside of this is that the book becomes more about Kelsey than where our food comes from, in parts. Like when Kelsey becomes involved in trying to free an indentured servant who works on a cocoa plantation in Africa. He goes on a wild goose chase, which should have been edited down to a couple of paragraphs. However Timmerman is a good writer, and the technique works for most of the book, giving the subject good emotional appeal.

The important fact is that most Americans have no idea that most of the lobster at places like the Red Lobster comes from Nicaragua and not from Maine, including myself before reading this, or that a good amount of our apple juice is concentrate sourced from China. So we are sublimely ignorant that the U.S is importing a good amount of our food. Timmerman is also an activist, trying to raise awareness about the terrible conditions for some of these foreign workers.

This was an enjoyable book, raising awareness, in addition to being a good adventure tale.

The Fine Print: How Big Companies Use 'Plain English' to Rob You Blind

David Cay Johnston has made a name for himself as the defender of the common man, calling out the rich and powerful for cheating the system at the expense of everyone else. Whether he's exposing unjust loopholes in the tax code that help the rich get richer or pointing out how powerful corporations pocket government subsidies at excessive taxpayer expense, Johnston is an eloquent town crier for justice and equality.

Ever wonder why your cable and phone bill goes up every year while your wages are stagnant here in the U.S.A. Or how people's pensions ended up in the pockets of millionaire CEO s after working for a large corporation for 30 years?

This is an interesting and important book written by a veteran reporter about how the corporatocracy is ripping everybody off here in the USA. That's if you would rather know the truth about what goes on, then see the latest photos of Anthony Weiner's peter, or who the Kardashians are sleeping with.

Retirement Heist: How Companies Plunder and Profit from the Nest Eggs of American Workers

It’s no secret that hundreds of companies have been slashing pensions and health coverage earned by millions of retirees. Employers blame an aging workforce, stock market losses, and spiraling costs - a perfect storm of external forces that has forced them to take drastic measures. But this so-called retirement crisis is no accident. Award-winning investigative reporter Ellen E. Schultz reveals how large companies and the retirement industry - benefits consultants, insurance companies, and banks - have all played a huge, hidden role in the death spiral of American pensions and benefits.

This is a well written, well researched book, about how many large corporations have rip-offed their workers retirement funds. The author Ellen Schultz is a former Wall St. Journal reporter, where some of this story is published. This lends credibility to her book, since WSJ has generally been a pro big business paper with an editorial staff that leans to the right.

The laws defining retirement funds can be complicated, no matter how good the writing. So the book took an extra effort on my part to pay close attention, and I had to listen to a few parts twice. But it was well worth the effort. However, this book will require more effort on the listener, than a less dense subject like a breezy novel. So if you're looking for an easy read, or a distraction this probably isn't it.

If you're a policy wonk like me you are probably aware that many well intentioned laws meant to protect workers and such are watered down by the federal and state bureaucracies that are supposed to administer them. - such is the case with retirement funds. This is the how and why of this book. I commend the author for making a difficult issue accessible and layering on a human touch. If you're concerned about this issue, this is the book to read.

The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water

The water coming out of your tap is four billion years old and might have been slurped by a Tyrannosaurus Rex. We will always have exactly as much water on Earth as we have ever had. Water cannot be destroyed, and it can always be made clean enough for drinking again. In fact, water can be made so clean that it actually becomes toxic. As Charles Fishman brings vibrantly to life in this delightful narrative excursion, water runs our world in a host of awe-inspiring ways, which is both the promise and the peril of our unexplored connections to it.

The Big Thirst is a well Written and interesting treatise on the world wide water situation. There are some minor flaws in the writing. The book could have been shorter. The author spends some time redundantly haranguing that Americans and developed nations waste a good deal of water and that we don't have coherent policies in place to deal with water shortages and droughts. Yes, I get it. That's why I purchased this audio-book. So there's little need to repetitively convince me. Otherwise and interesting book about an important issue, seldom discussed.

Healthcare Beyond Reform: Doing It Right for Half the Cost

There is a real answer for healthcare, and Medicare — and it’s not what you’re hearing. Veteran industry insider Joe Flower goes public with the biggest secret in health care: The real solution to health care is already starting to happen — if you know where to look. The reform act is just a small part of the picture. In 1980, healthcare took no more of a bite out of the U.S. economy than it did in other developed countries. By 2000, healthcare cost twice as much in the U.S. as in most other developed countries.

The book is a fairly non-partisan look at what is already working and what should be done to lower costs and provide better outcomes. The info is easy to understand and flows in an interesting manner. It;s obvious that Joe Flower is an expert in the field after studying and writing about healthcare for many years.

The author has an optimistic view that U.S healthcare consumers can and will get better outcomes and pay less in the future. Yes, but how long will it take, and how much suffering will transpire before that? Even the relatively benign Obamacare is decried as socialized medicine by the right.

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